tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58131554612402014662019-03-14T23:01:30.686-04:00Gratz IndustriesThe blog of Alan, Wendi, and Jo Gratz, and our attempts at living well.Gratz Industrieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06857642568906965743noreply@blogger.comBlogger204125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-91181661837276618522015-12-10T22:28:00.001-05:002015-12-10T22:29:42.556-05:00MST3K's Nicknames for Space Mutiny's Dave Ryder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AiHQ8BwkS7Y/VmpCUNyw5MI/AAAAAAAANQw/cAaTR5VQNKk/s1600/David%2BRyder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AiHQ8BwkS7Y/VmpCUNyw5MI/AAAAAAAANQw/cAaTR5VQNKk/s400/David%2BRyder.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Herewith, a list of all the nicknames Mike and the Bots give the character Dave Ryder in the stink-a-rific cheesy movie SPACE MUTINY:<br /><br />Beat Punchbeef<br />Big McLargehuge<br />Blast Hardcheese<br />Blast Thickneck<br />Bold Bigflank<br />Bolt Vanderhuge<br />Brick Hardmeat<br />Buck Plankchest<br />Buff Drinklots<br />Buff Hardback<br />Butch Deadlift<br />Crud BoneMeal<br />Crunch Buttsteak<br />Dirk Hardpec<br />Fist Rockbone<br />Flint Ironstag<br />Fridge Largemeat<br />Gristle McThornbody<br />Hack Blowfist<br />Lump Beefbroth<br />Punch Rockgroin<br />Punch Sideiron<br />Punt Speedchunk<br />Reef Blastbody<br />Roll Fizzlebeef<br />Rip Steakface<br />Slab Bulkhead<br />Slab Squatthrust<br />Slate Fistcrunch<br />Slate Slabrock<br />Smash Lampjaw<br />Smoke Manmuscle<br />Splint Chesthair<br />Stump Beefknob<br />Stump Chunkman<br />Thick McRunfast<br />Touch Rustrod<br />Trunk Slamchest<br />Whip Slagcheek<br />and Bob Johnson.<br /><br />Wait.Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-8579100913070809152015-02-22T10:24:00.001-05:002015-02-22T10:24:46.988-05:00More Canterbury Tales<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7mRAFmuYQwE/VOn0pcO3aOI/AAAAAAAALuk/4-AempOGrAw/s1600/More%2BCanterbury%2BTales%2B07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7mRAFmuYQwE/VOn0pcO3aOI/AAAAAAAALuk/4-AempOGrAw/s1600/More%2BCanterbury%2BTales%2B07.jpg" height="375" width="400" /></a></div><br />Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-90567153844686741972015-02-15T20:59:00.002-05:002015-02-15T21:00:55.281-05:00More Canterbury Tales<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y0XzY-QPVMk/VOFOwW-3iwI/AAAAAAAALjg/SIgHfs0xJ2I/s1600/More%2BCanterbury%2BTales%2B06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y0XzY-QPVMk/VOFOwW-3iwI/AAAAAAAALjg/SIgHfs0xJ2I/s1600/More%2BCanterbury%2BTales%2B06.jpg" height="386" width="400" /></a></div><br />Just for you, Tanita!Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-34039267648928793122015-02-07T15:39:00.000-05:002015-02-07T16:08:01.658-05:00More Canterbury TalesFound these while clearing out some old files in the cabinet. Back in the mid-90s, I briefly had the fun idea to take medieval drawings and put funny captions on them. I give you, MORE CANTERBURY TALES by Meister Gratz:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uhR9kyoA7FQ/VNZ1wt1GUtI/AAAAAAAALh4/AfwFJ5vXrJU/s1600/Meister%2BGratz%2B01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uhR9kyoA7FQ/VNZ1wt1GUtI/AAAAAAAALh4/AfwFJ5vXrJU/s1600/Meister%2BGratz%2B01.jpg" height="376" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GIiOYkiYAMA/VNZ1r_eTvlI/AAAAAAAALhw/ukKp8k-c93A/s1600/Meister%2BGratz%2B02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GIiOYkiYAMA/VNZ1r_eTvlI/AAAAAAAALhw/ukKp8k-c93A/s1600/Meister%2BGratz%2B02.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hKOuxWcJe24/VNZ1xUXlUgI/AAAAAAAALiA/6qB65pYtsfc/s1600/Meister%2BGratz%2B03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hKOuxWcJe24/VNZ1xUXlUgI/AAAAAAAALiA/6qB65pYtsfc/s1600/Meister%2BGratz%2B03.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6jU_7-GwRFs/VNZ2PqJDpAI/AAAAAAAALiI/OmD6W_Zfz6c/s1600/Meister%2BGratz%2B04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6jU_7-GwRFs/VNZ2PqJDpAI/AAAAAAAALiI/OmD6W_Zfz6c/s1600/Meister%2BGratz%2B04.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NFc7xdaE4lE/VNZ2SL5tkFI/AAAAAAAALiQ/727k60uY-Kc/s1600/Meister%2BGratz%2B05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NFc7xdaE4lE/VNZ2SL5tkFI/AAAAAAAALiQ/727k60uY-Kc/s1600/Meister%2BGratz%2B05.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div><br />Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-43683575053048644012013-08-04T23:02:00.000-04:002013-08-04T23:02:30.341-04:00The Barbie TARDIS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XdVlFqxKdSg/Uf8HYuQ1AKI/AAAAAAAAIsA/HEjbPom51hQ/s1600/DSCF0073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XdVlFqxKdSg/Uf8HYuQ1AKI/AAAAAAAAIsA/HEjbPom51hQ/s400/DSCF0073.JPG" width="243" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Meet the Barbie TARDIS!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uLBJq04TpKo/Uf8Ha9wJyWI/AAAAAAAAIsI/ddkkCq00gmE/s1600/DSCF0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uLBJq04TpKo/Uf8Ha9wJyWI/AAAAAAAAIsI/ddkkCq00gmE/s400/DSCF0097.JPG" width="242" /></a></div><br />I built this for my daughter Jo, who is eleven years old and super into Doctor Who. (As she should be.) She has dressed up one of her dolls in a Who-esque costume, and calls her the Lady Doctor. I couldn't let the Lady Doctor travel without a TARDIS of her own!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OOQW67eS2OY/Uf8Hev3XR4I/AAAAAAAAIsQ/LPYhd_KLN0s/s1600/DSCF0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OOQW67eS2OY/Uf8Hev3XR4I/AAAAAAAAIsQ/LPYhd_KLN0s/s400/DSCF0106.JPG" width="235" /></a></div><br />The TARDIS is made out of scrap plywood of different widths I had lying around from previous projects. The windows are a thick frosted plastic, with the casement lines drawn on with a Sharpie. They let in a soft light, which I like, and Jo likes putting electric tea candles inside and letting the windows glow from within. With both doors open, you can see inside where I glued the windows in.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cVXLGcsVajQ/Uf8HgQc3zkI/AAAAAAAAIsY/GTwNk85J55U/s1600/DSCF0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cVXLGcsVajQ/Uf8HgQc3zkI/AAAAAAAAIsY/GTwNk85J55U/s400/DSCF0110.JPG" width="245" /></a></div><br />The "POLICE BOX" signs at the top were found online (thanks, Who-builders!) and glued on with Spray-Mount. The blue paint was chosen by Wendi and Jo on one of their trips to Asheville--I think they nailed the TARDIS blue!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jh-SKBCvRAQ/Uf8HjvpOC6I/AAAAAAAAIsg/x8KIZw9c-IQ/s1600/DSCF0086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jh-SKBCvRAQ/Uf8HjvpOC6I/AAAAAAAAIsg/x8KIZw9c-IQ/s400/DSCF0086.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />The sign on the telephone door was printed out from a larger image I found on the web. In this picture, you can also see the teeny-tiny handles I bought from <a href="http://woodvictoriandollhouse.com/">woodvictoriandollhouse.com</a>. They came in brass, so I spray-painted them black. The handles, the paint, and the hardware for the light on top were the only things I had to buy for the project.<br /><br />I should also point out that though I like to call this "The Barbie TARDIS," that doll is not a Barbie. She is, in fact, a Monster High doll, which Jo much prefers. This is the Robecca Steam doll, who is steampunk-themed. The clothes, however, are homemade--they are pieces from the <a href="http://gratzindustries.blogspot.com/2007/12/project-barbie-04-zoot-poodle.html" target="_blank">Project Barbie</a> challenge Wendi and I did together years ago, when we made Barbie clothes to match the challenges on a season of <i>Project Runway</i>. Jo likes the colors because she feels they are very Doctor Who.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ymx_qpBWftE/Uf8Hl4QI8qI/AAAAAAAAIso/HLYV_wfdIac/s1600/DSCF0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ymx_qpBWftE/Uf8Hl4QI8qI/AAAAAAAAIso/HLYV_wfdIac/s400/DSCF0092.JPG" width="295" /></a></div><br />While I was building the TARDIS (which took MONTHS, much to Jo's chagrin) I saw this little K-9 advertised on <a href="http://thinkgeek.com/" target="_blank">ThinkGeek</a>, and I had to get it for her!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6PssodLRbAw/Uf8HoRMpc9I/AAAAAAAAIsw/YAPF5hJWGe8/s1600/DSCF0061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6PssodLRbAw/Uf8HoRMpc9I/AAAAAAAAIsw/YAPF5hJWGe8/s400/DSCF0061.JPG" width="241" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And look--the scale is perfect! I surprised her with it (and the finished TARDIS) when she got back from sleepaway camp last month. The TARDIS itself is pretty large--about 16.5 inches tall and 8.5 inches wide. Jo likes it because her Lady Doctor can fit a lot of companions in there with her, including K-9.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--7xAkZ-jcXM/Uf8Hqd4e53I/AAAAAAAAIs4/XCwum5IhQlE/s1600/DSCF0065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--7xAkZ-jcXM/Uf8Hqd4e53I/AAAAAAAAIs4/XCwum5IhQlE/s400/DSCF0065.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />I'm really pleased with the look of the signage, and the slightly mottled look the plywood took on when I painted it. It looks like a weathered and used TARDIS.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pBSIaaAkwLk/Uf8HufUgEtI/AAAAAAAAItA/zu-hEx5Wl88/s1600/DSCF0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pBSIaaAkwLk/Uf8HufUgEtI/AAAAAAAAItA/zu-hEx5Wl88/s400/DSCF0099.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />I decided to add the St. John Ambulance logo, which is on the 11th Doctor's TARDIS. Here again you can see one of the super-tiny handles.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vvOjo4Eg_to/Uf8H2491NgI/AAAAAAAAItI/h2XuozDDBbQ/s1600/DSCF0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vvOjo4Eg_to/Uf8H2491NgI/AAAAAAAAItI/h2XuozDDBbQ/s400/DSCF0084.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />I struggled with how to do the light at the top. I trolled the dollhouse aisles at our local hobby shops and surfed around online looking for a sort of hurricane lamp I could appropriate for a light on top, but never found anything. Then I had the idea to use a test tube--and we just so happened to have a tiny one already, which was being used to hold beads! The test tube is inserted upside-down through the three layers at the top, and held in place with a swinging hatch made out of the window plastic, so I can replace the little light bulb if and when it blows out. The light bulb was bought at a hobby shop--it's meant to light streetlamps and homes on a model train layout.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tYnyAX3V6FA/Uf8H5PvAZQI/AAAAAAAAItQ/RH5FZ8BFQ9E/s1600/DSCF0109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tYnyAX3V6FA/Uf8H5PvAZQI/AAAAAAAAItQ/RH5FZ8BFQ9E/s400/DSCF0109.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />The light is strung to a 9-volt battery on the inside, and then to a little switch I acquired at Radio Shack. Because who doesn't love flipping switches!? The light switch sticks out the back corner of the TARDIS, and is pretty unobtrusive. I had dreamed of attaching a sound chip to it with the sound of the TARDIS taking off and landing, but alas, that's beyond my very limited technical abilities. As it is, the TARDIS goes "WERRRN-WERRRN-WERRRN" only when you flip the switch and say "WERRRN-WERRRN-WERRRN" at the same time.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IWcysjwIY6A/Uf8H7fjS9JI/AAAAAAAAItY/bNcsd3-y1B8/s1600/DSCF0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IWcysjwIY6A/Uf8H7fjS9JI/AAAAAAAAItY/bNcsd3-y1B8/s400/DSCF0003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Here's a pic of one of the unpainted panels. I used a coping saw to do the windows, and ended up using a chisel to hack out the top layer of plywood to create the panels. When my chiseling got rough, I smoothed it with wood putty, as you can see in that top right panel, then sanded it flat.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zXaw9jdSQ4U/Uf8H9cvoZPI/AAAAAAAAItg/pMBHNwQLsy8/s1600/DSCF0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zXaw9jdSQ4U/Uf8H9cvoZPI/AAAAAAAAItg/pMBHNwQLsy8/s400/DSCF0009.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Barbie TARDIS, exploded view, during the painting phase.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O3woBnDOI3Y/Uf8H_SVrd1I/AAAAAAAAIto/kLUD-Wdt0uY/s1600/DSCF0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O3woBnDOI3Y/Uf8H_SVrd1I/AAAAAAAAIto/kLUD-Wdt0uY/s400/DSCF0078.JPG" width="216" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I'm thrilled with the result, and so is Jo! <i>Allons-y</i>, Lady Doctor!</div>Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-13266027190581648262013-02-14T14:17:00.000-05:002013-02-14T14:17:31.901-05:00Nancy Drew in The Tomb of the Cybermen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--JShcT0SGz4/UR03HuSrvTI/AAAAAAAAIhY/-3H0ikFknxY/s1600/Nancy+Drew+-+The+Tomb+of+the+Cybermen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--JShcT0SGz4/UR03HuSrvTI/AAAAAAAAIhY/-3H0ikFknxY/s640/Nancy+Drew+-+The+Tomb+of+the+Cybermen.jpg" width="408" />&nbsp;</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I made this.&nbsp; From an idea by my friend Wes Stitt. Kind of a hack job on GIMP, the Linux freeware Photoshop, but I'm pretty proud of it. The number in the corner is the year the original Doctor Who serial <i>The Tomb of the Cybermen</i> debuted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's a mash-up I'd love to read!</div><br />Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-32968332400284690132012-03-23T07:00:00.000-04:002012-03-23T07:00:02.447-04:00Awesome Minimalist Lego PostersCan you name the TV characters represented in these terrific, minimalist Lego ads?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ybqmMm9WOnw/T2tazzM2uWI/AAAAAAAAHcQ/SYZNl2lnu3E/s1600/lego_simpsons_rect540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ybqmMm9WOnw/T2tazzM2uWI/AAAAAAAAHcQ/SYZNl2lnu3E/s400/lego_simpsons_rect540.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-alPiVPE9MmY/T2ta2FsqJyI/AAAAAAAAHcY/sWLxjBqls0E/s1600/lego_bertandernie_rect540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-alPiVPE9MmY/T2ta2FsqJyI/AAAAAAAAHcY/sWLxjBqls0E/s400/lego_bertandernie_rect540.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RtxuIcFTut8/T2ta3Rsx-vI/AAAAAAAAHcg/b6W28zxuvH8/s1600/lego_ninjaturtles_rect540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RtxuIcFTut8/T2ta3Rsx-vI/AAAAAAAAHcg/b6W28zxuvH8/s400/lego_ninjaturtles_rect540.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3sentBNrtOs/T2ta4pXNmsI/AAAAAAAAHco/IJMive65qHQ/s1600/lego_southpark_rect540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3sentBNrtOs/T2ta4pXNmsI/AAAAAAAAHco/IJMive65qHQ/s400/lego_southpark_rect540.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: right;">via <a href="http://ht.ly/9Oz71">Apartment Therapy</a></div>Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-87993371494558467572011-08-11T12:25:00.002-04:002011-08-11T12:25:50.061-04:00Super Mario Bros. Jitterbug<object height="390" width="500"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/e8Dkog-pe-I&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/e8Dkog-pe-I&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="500" height="390"></embed></object><br /><br />Too awesome for words.Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-54393849353530719232011-05-19T16:23:00.000-04:002011-05-19T16:23:06.454-04:00Check out my new R2-D2 beanie!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OGoXK0AVMtg/TdV6ezm65MI/AAAAAAAAG88/09N5qR3Uo4g/s1600/DSCF0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OGoXK0AVMtg/TdV6ezm65MI/AAAAAAAAG88/09N5qR3Uo4g/s400/DSCF0023.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Check out this awesome R2-D2 beanie Wendi made for me! I love it so much I've been wearing it around the house even when there's no one here to see it. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tcra_cv7mME/TdV6l6biB2I/AAAAAAAAG9A/kyVumHETqFQ/s1600/DSCF0038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tcra_cv7mME/TdV6l6biB2I/AAAAAAAAG9A/kyVumHETqFQ/s400/DSCF0038.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />It's far too time-intensive for her to sell them affordably, but Wendi is selling the pattern as an add-on to her basic beanie pattern. To learn more, <a href="http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/2011/05/r2-d2-beanie-pattern-expansion-pack.html">click here to go to her craft blog, Shiny Happy World!</a>Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-69036238462978423132011-03-22T07:45:00.001-04:002011-03-22T07:45:00.854-04:00Happy Birthday, William Shatner<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DvQwXOCKNLY" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy 80th (!) Bill Shatner. Stay awesome.</div>Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-23141859166588977472011-01-06T14:45:00.000-05:002011-01-06T14:45:39.144-05:00Manufactured by Gratz Industries<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TSYalNqTnkI/AAAAAAAAG6Y/oBuWXYX7uM8/s1600/gratzindustries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TSYalNqTnkI/AAAAAAAAG6Y/oBuWXYX7uM8/s1600/gratzindustries.jpg" /></a></div><br />We knew there was a foundry on Long Island called <a href="http://www.gratzindustries.com/">Gratz Industries</a>, but we didn't know they were famous for <a href="http://www.pilates-gratz.com/index.php/">making Pilates equipment</a>* until our friend <a href="http://www.sarahm.com/">Sarah Mlynowski</a> snapped this pic with her camera phone. Awesome! We applaud industrious Gratzes of all ilks.<br /><br />*And is it me, or do Pilates machines look like torture devices!?Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-35694675070926826522011-01-05T11:03:00.000-05:002011-01-05T11:03:35.312-05:00Is Ferris Bueller the Cat in the Hat?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TSSSODM7MCI/AAAAAAAAG6Q/f3d7lJmihcw/s1600/ferris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TSSSODM7MCI/AAAAAAAAG6Q/f3d7lJmihcw/s400/ferris.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Wendi and I watched <i>Easy A</i> last night, which was fun, and has lots of great 80s teen movie references, including quite a few Ferris Bueller refs. That prompted us to pull out <i>Ferris Bueller's Day Off</i> and watch it as a sort of teen-movie, multi-generational double-feature, and we had fun all over again. ("Ladies and gentlemen, we'd like to play a little tune for you. I dedicate it to a man who doesn't think he's seen anything good today. Cameron Frye, this one's for you...")<br /><br />The odd thing about rewatching Ferris Bueller for perhaps the thousandth time (a conservative estimate) is that this time, I saw it as Cameron's story, not Ferris'. Ferris is the fun one. He's the one for whom everything always works out. But most of us aren't Ferris Bueller, no matter how much we want to be. We're more like Cameron Frye. We're nervous, we're scared, we're tentative about life. And it's Cameron who changes by the end of the movie, not Ferris. Cameron's the character who grows and changes. We love Ferris for not growing and changing, much as we love Peter Pan for the same reasons, but none of can ever really be Peter Pan, either.<br /><br />In fact, as I watched the film, I couldn't help comparing Ferris to another character who shows up in some nervous and tentative characters' lives and mixes things up for one crazy day:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TSSSPGI7aSI/AAAAAAAAG6U/xHcO4lwul-k/s1600/cat-in-the-hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TSSSPGI7aSI/AAAAAAAAG6U/xHcO4lwul-k/s1600/cat-in-the-hat.jpg" /></a></div>The Cat in the Hat, who promised two children they would have some "fun that is funny." I can't think of a better way to describe Ferris and his day off. Of course, when the Cat in the Hat leaves, everything is put back exactly the way it was when he arrived, and in <i>Ferris Bueller's Day Off</i>...well, if you've seen it, you know what isn't exactly the same as it was in the beginning of the movie. (I can't believe I'm even being careful about spoilers here. Seriously, if you haven't seen this movie, go out and rent it RIGHT NOW.)<br /><br />So, is Ferris Bueller the Cat in the Hat? Discuss amongst yourselves...Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-30003679937451926022010-12-14T07:45:00.000-05:002010-12-14T07:45:00.095-05:00Tron's Legacy?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TQZmDFGjRYI/AAAAAAAAG6A/mhKWAsr3qF4/s1600/tron-legacy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TQZmDFGjRYI/AAAAAAAAG6A/mhKWAsr3qF4/s400/tron-legacy.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><br />There's an awful lot of buzz out there right now about the new <i>Tron: Legacy </i>movie, a long-awaited follow-up to the cult classic from 1982. But good luck finding the original <i>Tron</i> on DVD to watch ahead of the new holiday blockbuster. The DVD is out of print, and the only remaining copies available on Amazon are going for around $120. Same thing on eBay. According to the <a href="http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/movies/articles/2010/11/15/20101115tron-dvd-out-of-print.html"><i>L.A. Times</i></a>:<br /><br /><div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><blockquote>Netflix lists "Tron" as "availability unknown," only two of Blockbuster's 30 L.A.-area stores had copies in stock this week, iTunes doesn't offer the title and even specialty stores that pride themselves on stocking obscure used DVDs are empty-handed.<span></span><br /><span></span></blockquote><span><a href="http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/movies/articles/2010/11/15/20101115tron-dvd-out-of-print.html#ixzz181BCkPqb" style="color: #003399;"></a></span> </div></div>Why, you might ask, wouldn't Disney capitalize on all the hype for the new movie to sell copies of the old one? It seems like an incredibly stupid move not to have at least the old version--let alone the planned newly remastered version available for sale and rental in the weeks leading up to the premiere of the new movie.<br /><br />The <i>L.A. Times</i> speculates that Disney doesn't want the now antiquated special effects of the original to turn off modern audiences:<br /><br /><div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><blockquote>"Tron" was a much more modest success than those films, however, earning $33 million at the box office and becoming a cult favorite for its groundbreaking use of computer-generated effects and a prescient story about computer culture. Today its effects might look quaint to sophisticated audiences.<br /><br />Disney says it will release Lisberger's remaster of "Tron" sometime in 2011. It's possible the company is deliberately holding back on printing new copies of a movie that could alienate the broad, non-geek audiences they'll need to make "Tron: Legacy" a success.<br /><br />"That film was ahead of its time," says Jan Saxton, an analyst at Adams Media Research. "But they want the focus to be on their new effort."</blockquote><br />Stupid. Just really stupid, IMHO. Way to miss out on sales there, Disney! Because I can't tell the difference between the special effects in movies made in 1982 and one made in 2010...<br /><br />I'm just glad I have that <i>Tron</i> special edition DVD Paul gave me for Christmas a while back! Who knew it would become a collector's item too? <br /><span></span></div></div>Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-38251169917577036202010-11-18T07:45:00.000-05:002010-11-18T07:45:00.560-05:00Life advice (?) from a Japanese toy box<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TOQRjy1QXXI/AAAAAAAAG5w/T6zrKB79ZHo/s1600/100_3945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TOQRjy1QXXI/AAAAAAAAG5w/T6zrKB79ZHo/s400/100_3945.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />I've been saving this box from a little toy I bought at a Tokyo Swallows baseball game during my visit to Japan in the spring for a little while now, because I've been meaning to blog it. The toy was just a little plastic brick guy in a baseball uniform, but the box turned out to be something special. All along the top there (half-hidden by a sticker) and along the sides are...advice? Life lessons? Philosophical musings? Social commentary? I'm not quite sure. Whatever it is, the author certainly has a lot to say on the matter.<br /><br />I present the text here in the hopes that you, dear readers, can discern some truth or meaning from them. From the front of the box:<br /><br /><blockquote>Everyone is playing himself or herself, in spite of he or she is conscious it or not. People cannot stop the play because their ideas are strongly affected by international information that is brought by TV and Newspapers, and they are conscious themselves by social bonds, although they may believe that they are making decisions by themselves first, then they take actions, but these are strongly affected.<br /><br />The daily life that does not have any changes is passing with unexpected fine balances.<br /><br />Everything that people is feeling by their five senses is in their inside. They cannot show them to other people as they are.</blockquote><br />And from the side:<br /><br /><blockquote>The imperfection is becoming a motivation to cope with social environment. However suppose people could love others only to the level that they can compromise. You should take more interested in yourself. What really am I?</blockquote><br />What really am I indeed? A toy box that has given us a lot to think about for sure.Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-59071160025515776692010-11-17T07:45:00.001-05:002010-11-17T07:45:00.153-05:00Harry Potter sings Tom Lehrer's "The Elements"<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="390" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rSAaiYKF0cs&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rSAaiYKF0cs&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="500" height="390"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yet another reason to love Daniel Radcliffe...</div>Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-27102062814849227752010-11-15T07:45:00.000-05:002010-11-15T07:45:00.584-05:00WTF?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TNzYySXQogI/AAAAAAAAG5k/ksNZW-JKN84/s1600/wtf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TNzYySXQogI/AAAAAAAAG5k/ksNZW-JKN84/s400/wtf.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><br />In honor of Jo's favorite new expression (and when I find the person who taught it to her, I'm not going to let him be her dad anymore!) <a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/WTF/599855">here's a funny as hell collection of prints</a> where the only thing the people can really say is...WTF?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TNzZbo7X1hI/AAAAAAAAG5o/p85AAN6WE4k/s1600/wtf2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TNzZbo7X1hI/AAAAAAAAG5o/p85AAN6WE4k/s400/wtf2.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-28984489405779039082010-11-10T07:45:00.001-05:002010-11-10T07:45:00.077-05:00The most zen Star Wars homage you'll ever watch<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/M_3xbcJBUxY?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/M_3xbcJBUxY?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="385"></embed></object></div><br />Check out this mesmerizing three-minute, cut paper version of the original three Star Wars movies by Eric Power to the song "Tatooine" by Jeremy Messersmith! Eric's got <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ashram6">plenty more beautiful paper cut pop art films</a> up on YouTube as well...<br /><br />(Via <a href="http://wilwheaton.typepad.com/wwdnbackup/2010/10/at-long-last-a-new-version-of-star-wars-i-can-get-excited-about.html">WWdN: In Exile</a>, via <a href="http://www.geekosystem.com/paper-animation-of-star-wars-trilogy/">Geekosystem</a>)Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-56414830902688898262010-10-26T13:48:00.000-04:002010-10-26T13:48:59.993-04:00Mad Men Mr. Men<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfPeYSHzj6w/TMcT1SSBPGI/AAAAAAAAEGE/I0tl5xBPFY8/s1600/draper-1d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" nx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nfPeYSHzj6w/TMcT1SSBPGI/AAAAAAAAEGE/I0tl5xBPFY8/s320/draper-1d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Made of awesome. Thanks to <a href="http://bookshelvesofdoom.blogs.com/">Bookshelves of Doom</a> for <a href="http://www.thepoke.co.uk/index.php/2010/10/26/mad-men-mr-men/?pid=360">the link</a>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfPeYSHzj6w/TMcUBMpdghI/AAAAAAAAEGI/Jk_5gSelZP0/s1600/sterling002-1f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" nx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfPeYSHzj6w/TMcUBMpdghI/AAAAAAAAEGI/Jk_5gSelZP0/s320/sterling002-1f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Hi! I'm Wendi!noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-1850220673799422052010-10-26T12:02:00.002-04:002010-10-26T12:07:50.544-04:00Ellery Queen series makes it to DVD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TMb4VQcA5-I/AAAAAAAAG4E/cDCwFtWm7PM/s1600/18892036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TMb4VQcA5-I/AAAAAAAAG4E/cDCwFtWm7PM/s400/18892036.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Anybody remember the <i>Ellery Queen</i> TV series? It only ran for one season--1975-1976--which is astounding because it was so much fun. I watched these in reruns at some point, but I still haven't seen them in years. Now they're finally available on DVD!<i>&nbsp;</i><br /><br /><i>Ellery Queen</i> was a lot of fun. Developed by Levinson and Link, the minds behind <i>Columbo</i> and, later, <i>Murder, She Wrote</i>, the episodes followed amateur detective Ellery Queen of short story fame as he stepped in to help his father, Detective Queen, solve the oddest of odd mysteries. The series broke the fourth wall by setting the scene in narration, having murder victims sit and talk to the camera, and then allowing Ellery, when everything had been laid out, to turn to the audience and say, "Have you figured it out yet? You've got all the clues you need!" The murders are clean and cozy too, making this one to share with the whole family.<br /><br />Ellery Queen also stars a host of great actors from back in the day. In addition to regulars Jim Hutton (father of Timothy Hutton, who would go on to play a TV detective himself: Archie Goodwin!) and David Wayne, who plays his father, the series features Tony Hillerman as a recurring radio detective character, George Burns, Eve Arden, Rudy Vallee, Ray Milland, Don Ameche, Ida Lupino, Vincent Price, Mel Ferrer, Kim Hunter, Joan Collins, Ray Walston, Tom Bosley, Betty White, Robbert Loggia, Rene Auberjonois, Jim Backus, Larry Hagman, June Lockhart, John Larroquette, Eva Gabor, Dean Stockwell, Tab Hunter, Roddy McDowall, Ed McMahon, Dick Van Patten, Tricia O'Neil, Cesar Romero, Dick Sargent, Diana Muldaur, Noah Beery Jr., Troy Donahue, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Victor Buono, and Eddie Albert--just to name a few<br /><br />Why did this show ever get canceled?* Sheesh. Ah well, to the Netflix queue!<br /><br />&nbsp; <br />* Well, this might have something to do with it: according to Wikipedia, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Hutton">Jim Hutton</a> died four years later in 1979 from liver cancer. What a loss.Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-56815190711985040192010-10-20T11:12:00.000-04:002010-10-20T11:12:24.972-04:00Next Saturday night, we're sending you back to the future!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TL8DxNSMNhI/AAAAAAAAG3s/EVxp-OiESs4/s1600/doc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TL8DxNSMNhI/AAAAAAAAG3s/EVxp-OiESs4/s400/doc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />AMC theaters are celebrating the 25th anniversary of Back to the Future with two days of shows around the country. The nearest show for us looks like Charlotte, which is two and a half hours away, or else I'd take Jo to see it on the big screen. <a href="http://www.amctheatres.com/bttf/">Here's the list of cities and theaters</a>, in case yours is on there.<br /><br /><blockquote>There's that word again; "heavy". Why are things so heavy in the future? Is there a problem with the earth's gravitational pull?</blockquote>Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-57857554262473082462010-10-19T07:00:00.000-04:002010-10-19T07:00:20.051-04:00A Very Presidential Mythbusters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TL12mRWS4gI/AAAAAAAAG3k/iYCrLI8C6ZY/s1600/MYTHBUSTERS5_039_monster_397x224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TL12mRWS4gI/AAAAAAAAG3k/iYCrLI8C6ZY/s400/MYTHBUSTERS5_039_monster_397x224.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />After <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/donttrythis">Adam Savage tweeted</a> merrily that he was on his way to the White House, word finally comes as to why: President Obama will be appearing on an episode of Mythbusters this December!<br /><br />According to reports, the move is part of a Presidential initiative to promote science and math. Speaking before a group of young science fair winners, Obama said that sports team winners traditionally got invitations to the White House, but winners of math and science prizes did not.<br /><br />"I thought we ought to do the same thing for the winners of science fairs and robotic contests and math competitions," he told the group. "Often, we don't give these victories the attention that they deserve. When you win first place at a science fair, nobody's rushing the field or dumping Gatorade over your head."<br /><br />According to the President, American 15-year-olds are ranked 21st in science and 25th in math when compared to students the same age in other countries around the world. He'd like to see American kids at number one in both fields by the end of the decade.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TL154IiZoZI/AAAAAAAAG3o/KAF5e61FyX0/s1600/x2_3115918.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TL154IiZoZI/AAAAAAAAG3o/KAF5e61FyX0/s400/x2_3115918.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />On Mythbusters, the President will challenge Adam, Jamie, and the rest of the gang to prove once and for all whether Archimedes' Death Ray was possible--a myth they've busted twice before. I wish they were doing something else, but perhaps the boys have a new take on it. According to a spokesperson for the show, a re-test of the myth is always high on the list of viewer requests.<br /><br />Obama's biggest regret about the episode, which has already been taped: "I didn't get to blow anything up. I was a little frustrated by that."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20019925-503544.html">CBS News: Obama to Appear on Mythbusters</a><br /><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/10/18/obama-mythbusters-test-archimedes-death-ray-push-promote-science/">Fox News: Obama, Mythbusters to Test 'Archimedes Death Ray' in Push to Promote Science</a>Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-30615320737862300242010-10-18T07:45:00.001-04:002010-10-18T07:45:00.880-04:00Steampunk Art<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TLvJbSSAMsI/AAAAAAAAG3E/PTDq_3jNcLQ/s640/Steampunk-by-Patrick-Reilly.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="441" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Steampunk" by Patrick Reilly</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TLvJbSSAMsI/AAAAAAAAG3E/PTDq_3jNcLQ/s1600/Steampunk-by-Patrick-Reilly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Found a <i>great</i> collection of steampunk images collected at <a href="http://www.templates.com/blog/other-side-perception-steampunk/">The Other Side of Perception</a> while, um, doing research. (Yes, that's it!) Here are some of my favorites. Visit the The Other Side of Perception blog to see more.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="484" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TLvKjaCVP3I/AAAAAAAAG3I/R-98yVl62cc/s640/Steampunk-Goliath-by-Cory-Jespersen.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Steampunk Goliath" by Cory Jespersen</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TLvKjaCVP3I/AAAAAAAAG3I/R-98yVl62cc/s1600/Steampunk-Goliath-by-Cory-Jespersen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TLvKlTI1K-I/AAAAAAAAG3M/lmJy-0W4Jf0/s640/1the-fall-of-icarus-by-nigel-quarless.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="436" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Fall of Icarus" by Nigel Quarless</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TLvKlTI1K-I/AAAAAAAAG3M/lmJy-0W4Jf0/s1600/1the-fall-of-icarus-by-nigel-quarless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="473" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TLvKnVElNeI/AAAAAAAAG3Q/EMQV819uh2E/s640/1steamnocchio-by-fabricio-moraes.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Steamnocchio" by Fabricio Moraes</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TLvKnVElNeI/AAAAAAAAG3Q/EMQV819uh2E/s1600/1steamnocchio-by-fabricio-moraes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TLvKo-29d0I/AAAAAAAAG3U/cW6mlU-wbnQ/s640/1blowup-details-by-lior-arditi.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="528" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Stromboli's Catch" by Lior Arditi</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TLvKo-29d0I/AAAAAAAAG3U/cW6mlU-wbnQ/s1600/1blowup-details-by-lior-arditi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TLvKs7a0OcI/AAAAAAAAG3Y/UsmfLPG1x6U/s640/2mermaid-song-by-leonardo-hernandez.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="324" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Mermaid Song" by Leonardo Hernandez</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TLvKs7a0OcI/AAAAAAAAG3Y/UsmfLPG1x6U/s1600/2mermaid-song-by-leonardo-hernandez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TLvKu5Lbm1I/AAAAAAAAG3c/2dYahF-6_Cw/s640/2mary-poppins-by-daniel-cestari.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="364" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Mary Poppins" by Daniel Cestari</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TLvKu5Lbm1I/AAAAAAAAG3c/2dYahF-6_Cw/s1600/2mary-poppins-by-daniel-cestari.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TLvKxZnML9I/AAAAAAAAG3g/Sk3oeoN7T6U/s640/3judith-and-holofernes-by-aly-fell.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="307" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Judith and Holofernes" by Aly Fell</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_aj_173BZ0-c/TLvKxZnML9I/AAAAAAAAG3g/Sk3oeoN7T6U/s1600/3judith-and-holofernes-by-aly-fell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-32894983191433497072010-10-12T07:45:00.001-04:002010-10-12T07:45:00.720-04:00Star Wars v. Star Trek: The Trailer<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oEE4Pib8QcQ?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oEE4Pib8QcQ?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="385"></embed></object></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">If only...</div>Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-55426527477183468512010-09-25T08:46:00.003-04:002010-09-25T08:50:57.824-04:00Who Would Have Thought Painted Rocks Could Be So Fabulous?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfPeYSHzj6w/TJ3vuOLcvnI/AAAAAAAAEFA/DIC-e8LxBw0/s1600/rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfPeYSHzj6w/TJ3vuOLcvnI/AAAAAAAAEFA/DIC-e8LxBw0/s400/rocks.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>I can't stop looking at <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alisonodonoghue/929563699/">these amazing faces by Alison O'Donoghue</a> - I want to fill a tall, skinny vase with them. Jo and I are flying solo this weekend with nowhere we need to go and nothing we need to do. I feel a rock-painting afternoon coming on. . .Alan Gratzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528858793775172285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5813155461240201466.post-58421145554563134022010-09-24T21:01:00.001-04:002010-09-24T21:01:55.871-04:00A Scamper of Bogeymen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfPeYSHzj6w/TJ1Iu8PbF4I/AAAAAAAAEE8/j4zD0OhE3CY/s1600/what-to-call-things-full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nfPeYSHzj6w/TJ1Iu8PbF4I/AAAAAAAAEE8/j4zD0OhE3CY/s400/what-to-call-things-full.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I love <a href="http://www.geekologie.com/2010/09/word_wizardry_the_stokeswhible.php">this list of supernatural collective nouns</a> found over at <a href="http://www.geekologie.com/">Geekologie</a> (via <a href="http://bookshelvesofdoom.blogs.com/">Bookshelves of Doom</a>). My favorites? A scamper of bogeymen and a lunacy of werewolves. Awesome.Hi! I'm Wendi!noreply@blogger.com0